PR Defined…21 Times
By: Erin Robinson
When I meet new people and the typical small talk begins, one of the first questions asked is “What do you do?”, to which I respond, “I work in PR”. One of the following responses follows quickly thereafter.
- You work in PR? That’s amazing! Is it just like Samantha in Sex and the City?
- That seems like it would be such a fun, glamorous job. Do you love it?
- What exactly is PR?
Though the responses manifest themselves in several unique, often ridiculous, deliveries, all make it very clear that most people have no idea what PR really is. This daily realization is what makes this blog post featured in today’s PR Daily Newsfeed so amazing—21 definitions of PR in 140 characters or less (thank you, Twitter, for placing invisible handcuffs on the English language!).
My personal favorite for pure entertainment value? “Know your stuff. Be relevant. Be timely. Be helpful. Be a human being. Tell good stories. Make relationships real. Don’t be a jerk. Hustle.” All so true, particularly “hustle”.
One of the responses that I believe holds the most weight? “The art of conveying a brand’s key messages through news, events & communications to establish, enhance or repair the brand’s image.”
Whatever the definition might be, I can assure all aspiring PR pros that, while my job is often fun and never boring, I’m certainly not traipsing around the streets of Manhattan in Manolo’s enjoying a cocktail at 2:00 p.m. on a Monday afternoon!
